Pilates - Beginning Mat Workout

Rating:
Summary: Excellent beginner's workout
Review: This is a fabulous workout. I love Ana Caban! She is encouraging, sweet and best of all, not ditzy. This is a wonderful workout to begin with for anyone new to Pilates that doesn't want to invest a lot of money in props. I moved quite easily through the workout the first day but the next morning I felt it. I also feel taller! Enjoy! This is a great one!

Rating:
Summary: Ana is way better than windsor!!!!
Review: I got this video a while ago but like many other fitness fads, it initially found itself in my closet unused. I've become a lot more committed to fitness recently so I bought the windsor videos, which I liked okay enough to do every couple of days. After reading reviews on amazon, I remembered that I had this video and I pulled it out to do it. let me just say that ANA ROCKS!!! She has a few cheesy moments in the intro section. ALthough to her credit, I didn't find her anywhere near as annoying as other videos. Once the workout began, I quickly forgave her for any overly cheesy momements in her intro. She does an excellent job of being really clear to a beginner, such as myself. Way better than windsor. I actually have a better idea of where to put my focus during each exercise. I found her modifications helpful. Although there was one time that I used a modification that I remembered from windsor. I like the fact that at all times. one person is doing a modified version of the excercise that she does. My one small complaint is that there are moments that I wish the camara would do a better focus on the chick doing the modified exercises before going back to ana. I am now working out almost everyday with her and I look forward to it. That has never happened to me. My recommendation is, GET THIS VIDEO IF YOU ARE A BEGINNER TO PILATES AND ARE LOOKING FOR A MOTIVATING BUT NOT OVERLY PERKY, NO NONSENSE AND EFFECTIVE PILATES INTRODUCTION. I am looking forward to trying Ana's other videos.

Rating:
Summary: Not happy with product quality
Review: Product is faulty and jolts in my dvd. A complete waste of money as I will not sell to someone knowing it's faulty, unlike this seller.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: I think Ana Caban does a wonderful job instructing as well as cuing. I do this workout 3x a week and I actually look forward to the workout!! Her workouts are better and more challenging than the ones I was doing on my own! Right now, I'm still working on the beginners VHS, however, I'm looking forward to the intermediate workout.

Rating:
Summary: Great way to get into Pilates
Review: I was new to Pilates, so I tried out Ana Caban's beginner's workout. After doing the workout 3 times a week for a few weeks, my hubby says to me "you're buns are lookin' pretty firm hon". Well, that's worth it to me! My tummy's getting firmer too. I have most of the moves down pretty well and look forward to moving on to the intermediate workout.

If you're new to Pilates and want to get started, this is a great workout.

Rating:
Summary: Only for complete beginners.
Review: This is a very good starting place for anyone who is an ABSOLUTE beginner. If you have even a bit of coordination or have dabbled in Pilates or Yoga this dvd will be too slow for you.
While the instruction on the poses is good, the progression is very slow and you'll feel like you're lying around waiting for your workout to begin.
The second part of this series (Intermediate Mat Workout) is an excellent workout and the instruction in the dvd is clear enough even if you haven't done this one first.
If your remotely fit and coordinated, I would recommend skipping directly to the second offering in this series.

Rating:
Summary: Ana Caban is a goddess
Review: I am a veteran of all types of workout videos and this one is by far my favorite. Pilates itself is a challenging and worthwhile workout that also, when done correctly, can help relax and soothe as well as strenghten. This workout is not complicated because Caban makes it easy and fun, but the moves are challenging. I never feel cheated or clueless and, for a video instructor, Caban does a great job of teaching and motivating as well as demonstrating the moves. Using this workout, it is possible to feel better immediately.

Rating:
Summary: A very good, basic beginners workout.
Review: This is a terrific introduction to Pilates. You'll feel like you got a great workout in just 20 minutes, and the instructor is an excellent teacher, moving not too quickly, nor too slowly.

Rating:
Summary: My experience with this
Review: I am a reasonably strong 40 yo male (I powerlifted as a younger man, and have lifted weights on and off ever since and so am still quite strong). Over the years I've developed some postural problems, and hypothesized that they were due to strong but tight lower back and abs that were weak in comparison (I did very little direct ab training). I thought Pilates might help, and decided to try it via DVD and book. I researched different videos, and decided on this one and Brook Siler's "Pilates Body" video. I was glad I did. The workout, though "beginner level", is quite humbling for someone who considers themselves "strong". Many of the moves are very challenging - they're very different from anything I've done through conventional weight training and require a totally different approach, and strength in a very different range of motion. As a result of doing this, I've become more conscious of my body alignment, and am hopeful that good posture will eventually become natural.

While Ana does talk between exercises, the workout is still challenging because the moves themselves are challenging, rest or no rest. There's also a bonus "energy boost" workout, which I believe is the same workout sped up. I would definitely recommend this DVD for anyone starting out, as well as the book as a reference. And if you outgrow it, a few bucks more get you the intermediage workout DVD.

I will say I also tried the Classical Pilates DVD first, and although in itself it seemed fine at the time - with no point of comparison, the lack of instruction didn't bother me - I definitely benefitted from the more complete instruction on Ana's DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Will Show Results for the Busy Person
Review: This workout is amazing!!! I could never stick to an exercise routine before, but I can do this one everyday before I begin another busy day. I was suprised to see results and definition in my abs and thighs within a matter of weeks. I have a dozen or so pilates videos (which I now regret buying)and get irritated because they do more talking than working out. That's not the case in Ana Caban's Begining Mat Workout-she gives just enough instruction and encouragement to get you through this 25 minute workout. I have recommended this workout to all of my friends and family and they're all just a crazy about it as I am. If you're busy, want more energy and definition in your middle-this is the workout for you!